Applicator for cosmetics



14, 1955 J. w. GOLDBERG ETAL 3,

APPLICATOR FOR COSMETICS Filed Sept. 17, 1962 FIG. 5

INVENTORS JUL/U5 I. GOLDBERG HORACE PECK A TTORNE 75 United States Patent 3,223,096 APFLHIATOR FOR COSMETICS Julius W. Goldberg, MacArthur Lane, Stamford, Conn, 131% Horace Peck, 165 Bennett Ave., New York 40,

Filed Sept. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 223,908 8 Claims. (Cl. 132-79) The present invention relates to an applicator for applying cosmetics, and more particularly for applying cosmetics in liquid, cream or cake form such as make-ups, rouge and eye shadowing material.

It is the customary practice to apply cosmetics of the general kind above referred to by hand. This results unavoidably in soiling of the fingers of the users and is also unhygienic and generally messy. Furthermore, women find it often difficult to distribute the cosmetics to be applied smoothly and accurately, especially when the skin area to be covered is a small one.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved applicator for applying cosmetics of the general kind above referred to by means of which the cosmetics to be used can be smoothly and accurately distributed over a skin area without touching the cosmetics by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved applicator with which application of the cosmetic is effected by means of an inexpensive and disposable pad. This affords the advantage that the applicator can be easily kept clean by simply disposing of the pad when it is soiled.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved applicator, the pad of which can be easily exchanged for a fresh one without disassembly of the applicator, and in which the new pad will be automatically held in position. Such ease of exchange of the pad makes it convenient to use the same applicator for different kinds of cosmetics by simply inserting a new pad for each kind of cosmetic to be used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved applicator in which there may be accommodated an ample supply of spare pads thus facilitating, when desired, replacement of a used pad.

Applicators according to the invention may be made available in different sizes commensurate with the specific cosmetic or skin area for which the applicator is intended. They are suitable for home use, or to be carried in a purse or handbag. They may be made of plastic or metal, precious or non-precious.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of r the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims constituting part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing several embodiments of the invention are shown by way of illustration and not by Way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section, of an applicator according to the invention, the applicator pad being shown exposed.

FIG. 2 is a view of the applicator of FIG. 1, the applicator pad being shown concealed within the applicator casing.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a modification of the pad holder of the applicator.

FIG. 4 is a plan View of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is an elevational sectional view of another modification of an applicator according to the invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 in detail, the applicator as exemplified in these figures is indicated to be made of plastics, but it may of course also be made of a suitable metal, precious or non-precious.

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The applicator comprises a casing 1 closed at one end and open at the other end. Casing 1 serves to receive a supply of applicator pads 2. The pads are shown as, by way of example, comprising a base 2a to which is secured, for instance by glue or cement, a cushion 2b. The base should be pliable and made of a material substantially impervious to liquid such as a soft leather or plastic and the cushion may be made of a fibrous material capable of retaining a quantity of a liquid cosmetic, or the cushion may also be made of a spongy material. All the applicator pads placed in casing 1 may be alike, but different types of applicator pads may be provided so that the user can use a pad that appears to be best suited for the specific cosmetics to be applied.

The open end of casing 1 serves to receive a holder for the applicator pad to be used. The holder comprises a tubular member 4 closed at one end by an end wall 4a. A sleeve v5 is fitted into member 4 suitably retained therein for instance by a friction fit. The outer rim of sleeve 5 is turned inwardly at 5a. A generally cup-shaped pressure member 6 is slidably fitted in sleeve 5. The base 6a of the cup is preferably slightly convexly curved at the outside and provided with a vent hole 6b. A yieldable means 7 is fitted in tubular member 4. The yieldable means is shown as a coil spring abutting at one end against wall 4a and at the other end against base 6:: of cup 6, thereby urging the cup toward the inwardly turned rim 5a.

Instead of a spring, other suitable yieldable means such as rubber can also be used.

The outside wall of tubular member 4 is formed with a circumferential outwardly protruding flange 4b.

The applicator, as hereinbefore described, functions as follows:

To insert a pad in the applicator, the pad is placed upon surface 6a and by applying a slight finger pressure upon the pad, cup 6 is slightly pressed inwardly against the action of spring 7, thereby providing space for fitting an applicator pad between the base 6a of cup 6 and rim 5a. The diameter of the pads is larger than the inner peripheral diameter of rim 5a thereby clamping the pad between the rim and the cup when the latter is released. As is clearly shown in FIG. 1, the pad is safely clamped. FIG. 1 also shows that the cushion of the pad will be slightly deformed by the pressure of spring 7.

The applicator is now ready for use. To replace a soiled pad by a fresh one the holder assembly 3 is pulled out of casing 1 thereby making accessible the supply of pads. The old pad is then simply pulled out by exerting a slightly lateral pressure upon the pad sufiicient to depress cup 2. A new pad is then inserted as previously described.

When the applicator is not in use the holder assembly is reversed so that the pad now faces inwardly and the lower part of tubular member 4 faces outwardly to form a cover for the casing as is shown in FIGv 2. Flange 4b 7 limits the depth of insertion of the holder in either position.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the holder assembly only The holder assembly of FIGS. 3 and 4 may be used with casing 1.

The holder assembly 10 comprises a generally tubular member 11 closed at one end by a Wall 11a and provided on its outer wall with a circumferential outwardly protruding flange 11b. The rim of member 11 has inwardly turned portions shown as a plurality of circumferentially spaced tongues 11c. Of course, it would also be possible to turn inwardly the rim along its entire peripheral length. A generally cup-shaped pressure member 12 having a convexly curved base 12a including a vent hole 12b is slidably fitted in tubular member 11. A spring 13 again 6 urges cup 12 toward tongues 110 to clamp an applicator pad between the rim and the base of cup 12 as previously described.

Replacement of a soiled pad is effected in the same manner as has been described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. shows an applicator comprising a tubular member 15 open at both ends. A partition wall 16 is secured within tube 15 to divide the same in two compartments. The lower compartment forms a casing for accommodating a supply of pads 2. The casing is closed at its open end by a removable cover 17 which preferably fits tube 15 with a flush fit.

The upper compartment accommodates the pad holder assembly. The assembly comprises an inwardly turned rim 15a and a generally cupshaped pres-sure member 18 which is urged against rim 15a by a coil spring 19 abutting on one end against partition wall 16 and on the other end against cup 18, thereby clampingpad 2 between the cup and the rim as previously described.

A second cover 20 also fitting flush upon the tube 15 serves to cover pad 2 when the applicator is not in use.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letter Patent is:

1. An applicator for applying cosmetics, said applicator comprising a reversible tubular holder closed at one end and open at the other end, said open end having an inwardly protruding portion at said other end to define a central opening at said end, a pressure member slidably fitted into said holder and closing the open end thereof, said pres-sure member having a peripheral outline greater than the inner peripheral outline of the opening as defined by said protruding portion, an applicator pad, yieldable means within said holder abut-ting against the closed end of the holder and said pressure member to urge the latter toward said protruding member and to clamp said applicator pad releasably between said pressure member and said protruding portion, and a tubular casing open at one end for receiving a supply of said applicator pads, said holder being inserted into the open end of the casing to expose the clamped applicator pad in said opening in one position of insertion of the holder and to form a cover for the casing in the reverse position of insertion in which the closed end of the holder faces outwardly.

2. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein a sleeve is friction-fitted into said holder, the outwardly facing rim of said sleeve being inwardly turned to form said inwardly protruding portion.

3. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein the rim at the open end of said holder is at least partly inwardly turned to form said inwardly protruding portion.

4. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said tubular holder has an outwardly protruding flange intermediate its length, said flange being engageable with the rim of the casing to form an abutment limiting the depth 41 of insertion of the holder in either position of insertion thereof.

5. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said pressure member is generally cup-shaped, the base of said member being ooncavely curved in reference to the open side of said member.

6. An applicator according to claim 1 wherein said yieldable means is a coil spring abutting at one end against the closed end of the holder and at the other end against said pressure member.

7. An applicator for applying cosmetics, said applicator comprising a reversible tubular holder closed at one end and open at the other end, said open end terminating in an inwardly turned peripheral flange to define a central opening at said end, a generally cup-shaped pressure member slidably fitted in said holder, the bottom of said pressure member facing said flange and the peripheral outline of the pressure member being Wider than the inner peripheral outline of said flange to retain the pressure member within the holder, spring means within the holder abutting at one end against the closed end of the holder and at the other end against the bottom wall of said pressure member to urge the same against said flange, a one-piece pliable applicator pad having a peripheral outline wider than the inner peripheral outline of said flange, said pad being clamped along its peripheral margin between said flange and the bottom of said pressure member to expose the central portion of the pad for use and removal of the pad from the holder, and a tubular casing for a supply of said applicator pads, said casing being open at one end and closed :at the other end, said holder being received in the open end of the casing with a frictional fit whereby in one position of insertion of the holder the part thereof protruding from the casing constitutes an extension of the casing closed at the respective end by the closed end of the holder and in the reverse position the applicator pad is exposed.

8. An applicator according to claim 7 wherein said holder has an external peripheral flange intermediate its length, said external flange being engageable wit-h the rim of the casing at the open end thereof to form an abutment for the holder limiting the depth of insertion thereof in either position of insertion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 620,222 2/1899 Browne et al. 206-435 1,605,496 11/1926 Barbieri 221-59 1,842,442 1/1932 Ames 13282 X 2,100,173 11/1937 Rubens 132-73 2,862,221 12/1958 Hume 15--258 2,878,500 3/1959 Thorpe l5565 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,227,461 3/1960 France.

656,741 8/ 1951 Great Britain.

769,416 3/ 1957 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner.

GREGORY E. MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN APPLICATOR FOR APPLYING COSMETICS, SAID APPLICATOR COMPRISING A REVERSIBLE TUBULAR HOLDER CLOSED AT ONE END AND OPEN AT THE OTHER END, SAID OPEN END HAVING AN INWARDLY PROTRUDING PORTION AT SAID OTHER END HAVING AN A CENTRAL OPENING AT SAID END, A PRESSURE MEMBER SLIDABLY FITTED INTO SAID HOLDER AND CLOSING THE OPEN END THEREOF, SAID PRESSURE MEMBER HAVING A PERIPHERAL OUTLINE GREATER THAN THE INNER PERIPHERAL OUTLINE OF THE OPENING AS DEFINED BY SAID PROTRUDING PORTION, AN APPLICATOR PAD, YIELDABLE MEANS WITHIN SAID HOLDER ABUTTING AGAINST THE CLOSED END OF THE HOLDER AND SAID PRESSURE MEMBER TO URGE THE LATER TOWARD SAID PROTRUDING MEMBER AND TO CLAMP SAID APPLICATOR PAD RELEASABLY BETWEEN SAID PRESSURE MEMBER AND SAID PROTRUDING PORTION, AND A TUBULAR CASING OPEN AT ONE END OF RECEIVING A SUPPLY OF SAID APPLICATOR PADS, SAID HOLDER BEING INSERTED INTO THE OPEN END OF THE CASING TO EXPOSE THE CLAMPED APPLICATOR PAD IN SAID OPENING IN ONE POSITION OF INSERTION OF THE HOLDER AND TO FORM A COVER FOR THE CASING IN THE REVERSE POSITION OF INSERTION IN WHICH THE CLOSED END OF THE HOLDER FACES OUTWARDLY. 